Spare wheel or tire lock



Feb. l2, i935. W. L. HAWKiNs 1,991,208

SPARE WHEEL 'OR TIRE LOCK Original Filed Sept. 24, 1928 /QfTOF-NEK unauthorized removal.`

`Patented-liebt12u, 1935 A 1 Y 1,991,208 SPAREr WHEEL on TIRE Loon` Walter'L Hawkins, St. `Louis', Mo., lassignor, by

mesne-ass'ignmentato Oakes Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,

i'gan l a corporation of Mich- Appiication september 24V1Q2s, serial 1516.307387 Renewed September 216,1` 193,2.` a

1 claim. (01170-90) This invention relates generallywto locks, for,A

automobile spare-parts; i I

Many automobiles of present standard construction are equipped with spare wheels ortires `which are carried uponthe fenders. For such purpose, the fenders are provided with what are commonly designated as `FWells?, which may hence be described as tire'supports or carriers embodied `or incorporated `in the .automobile or` other like vehicle 'and `commonly include a U-shaped pocket or recess adaptedfor treadwise partial receptionof a spare-tire Vor wheelassembly. 1 A

My` present invention has particular reference toa device for lockably (retaining a sparetire or wheel assembly in such also-called fender well of an automobile or other vehicle and has` forv its chief `object the provision. of a device for efficiently locking such spare-wheel `or tire against My invention has for `a further object the provision of such a locking device which comprises few parts, which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured, which maybe` easily yinstalled upon the automobile Vor other vehicle, which is compact and durable in structure; whichis conveniently operable,land which is efficient in the performance of its intended functions.v

And with the above and other objects in view,

my present invention resides `in thevnovel fea-` tures of form,` construction, arrangement, and combination of parts `hereinafter described and pointed out in ,the claim.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 isa fragmentary Vside view of a fender having a well or tire-support incorporated therein, in association with a spare wheel or tire'assembly treadwise presented `therein and lockably retained by a lock embodying my invention;

Figure 2is a fragmentary sectional View along the line2;2, Figure 1, a portionof the wheel or tire-assembly being shown by dot-and-dash lines;

Figure 3 is an elevational View of the lock, fragmentary portions of thefender and support-V ing bracket being shown and a wheel or tire assembly being indicated by dot-and-dash lines; Figure 4 is a sectional View along the line 4 4, Figure 2, showing the ratchet nut of the lock in locked position; and l Figure 5 is a view similarto Figure 4, showing the ratchet-nut of the lockin unlocked position.'

Referring now more in detail and `by reference characters 1 to the drawing, which illustrates` a preferred embodiment of the invention, A designates a tire-support of the typeknownas a fender-well, which includes an arcuate' pocket or recess 1 formed preferably with a U- shaped or other cross-section, conformable with the `contour of `the standard tire, in the usual 'fender 2'of an automobileor othervehicle, for thepartial treadwise reception of a spare-tire or' wheel `assembly B, i This latter usually comprises a` casingx3 and its associated so-called-fdemountable rim `or wheel,` whether ,wi-re, disc,' or artillery,` 4,

as best seenA in- Figure v1; for brevity, the same will be designatedboth in this specification and in the claims as the spare-wheel assembly. p My new lock, designated generallyyas lC, is

:adapted to preventthe unauthorizedremoval of lthe1spa-11e-w'heel assembly-,B from the tire support Aby lockably interposing a` linearlyl `movable retaining` member or arm 5 spaced rela-V tion with thel supportrxA forV embracing the assembly B therebetween, as shown inFigure 3,

arm 5 being supported for movement `inra radial plane of the wheel-assembly B towards or away from the support `A onanvadjacent screw-threaded-post 6 supported on a-iiiced, bracket 'leztended laterally fromthe-frame `or other portion of` theH chassis of the vehicle (notfshown). Thefpost 6 preferably projects upwardly through thelapron] 8 `of the fender 2V andV is secured `thereto byV a collar 9 `abutting-the underside `of the apronl anda nutlO threaded to the post for bearing on theupper side ofthe apron.` 1

p The` 5, which for the mostpartis preferablycf inverted channel shape` in cross-scction,\asbest seen in Figure V2, terminates in `a nose `5cl carrying arwheel or rim-engaging cushion or pad `11 and includes a tubular orlchambered body-,portionV l12 encircling and `disposed for movement upon and `relatively to the post 6, and disposed in lthe -bore or chamber of `the `arm body-portion 12 and threaded to the post 6, is a ratchet-nut 13 provided with a circuml:0 y Y ferential annular channel 14,1co-operating with 1 the lower wall 15 of which and fixed transversely in the arm 5, `is a pin 16 for permanently,

while permitting rotatory movement of the nut 13 relatively to the arm 5and also rotatory orswingl ing movement of arm 5 relatively to the nut 13,

" retaining the "nut 13 and arm 5 operatively together. Y

Pinned collar or ring 17 adapted to revolvingly, bear against the upper or outer face 18 of the-arm body-portion 12, whereby the nut 13 may .be

`or otherwise permanently fastened or conjoined, as at 17a, to the nut 13, is a handled n rotated for adjustment on the post 6, the arm 5 being thereby moved or shiftedtowards or away from the support A. l

Reciprocable ina bore V19 in the arm bodyportion 12 for co-operative latching engagement with a series of vratchet teeth or notches 20 provided on the nut 13, is a bolt 21 normally urged yieldingly vin extended or projected position by a spring 22 seated between the end wall of the bore 19 and the bolt 21. Disposed in a recess 23 provided in the arm body-portion l2 and pinned, as at 24, or otherwise permanently fixed to the Yarm 5 against removal, is a preferably cylindrical lock-block 25, mounted for rotatory movement in which is a cylindrical member or barrel 26.adapted only for rotatory actuation, as is customary in such-locks, by means of a key 27 insertable into the cylinder 26.* The barrel 26 at its inner end extends preferably.: somewhat beyond the block 25, and projecting.

" from the inner end of barrel 26, is a longitudinally disposed and axially offset crank-pin 28 adapted to t and workA in a slot 29 provided in the spring-pressedbolt 21, the axial width of which slotis suflcient to permit lengthwise movement of the bolt 21 by the nut 13 in riding thereover either when key-actuated, as shortly appears, or when rotated Ain the direction opposite to that faced by theteeth or notches 20, fior purposes presently appearing'.

Preferably depending from the arm body-portion 12 for slidably bearing` against aside wall of the well 1 or other like contiguous part' of the support A, is aguide or stem l30 adapted to prevent rotationy of the arm5 on the post 6 when said arm isY disposedV for retention of Athe Wheel assembly `B on or in the support A. Preferably,

however, the length of the stem 30 is'such that the yarm 5 maybe swung about the post. 6 away from the well 1 -befo're'the nut V13 is entirely dis` engaged from the post 6,V thereby facilitating the use ofthe device, as shortly appearing.

Normally as when the key 27 is'removedl from the lock-cylinderV 26, the bolt 21 yieldingly engages the nut 13 at one or theV other of its notches 20 and prevents rotatory movement of the nut 13 inthe direction faced by the notches 20,'or', as' it may be said, outwardly upon the post 6 for freeing the wheel-assembly; VHowevery manually or'by means of a wrench or other suitableV tool (not shown)` applied'upon the ring 17, the nut 13 may be rotarily actuated inwardly or-in a wheellocking direction upon the post 6, that is to say, inthe Vdirection opposite torth'at faced by the ratchet-notches 20, the bolt 21 being successively depressed against the tension of spring 22 by the cam faces of the Vseveral notches 20 and the nut 13 riding thereover, the slot V29 being, as stated, of suicient length or'Y width to permit such successive depression againstl the tension of spring 22 when the nut 13 is so actuated inwardly. On aY key 27 being inserted in the cylinder 26 and the cylinder 26 being then'rotarily actuated, the bolt 21 will be pulledor retracted by the crank-pin 28 out of engagement with Vthe nut 13, when the nut V13 may be freely rotated outwardly or Vin a wheel-freeing or release direction, the arm 5 and its stem 3l) being thereby shifted away from the wheel assembly B and the fender 2.

Hence, in use and operation, the key 27 is suitably manipulated to retract the bolt 21 against the tension of spring 22 and unlatch the nut 13,

CII

whichmay then be rotated by manually or other- Y Vwise graspingthe handled collar 17 toV adjust the nut 13 on the post 6in a direction'to move the arm 5 away from ther support A, preferably until ed in the well 1 and the arm 5swung thereover.

The key 27 meanwhile having been removed to permit the bolt 2l to take its normally spring set position, the nut 13` is screw'eddown on the post 6 "until the arm 5 engages the vrim `4 and rmly holds the tire assembly on or in the suppert A, the l stem 30 engaging the :support Af and thereby rigidly retaining the arm 5 'against' swingable movement relatively to the arm5 and post Gand the bolt 21 engaging a ratchet tooth or notclr2- of the nut 13 tov prevent retrograde movement thereof, ,thereby lockingV the A'wheel *assembly BV on the support A. Y ,Y

It is to be understood that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, Yand combination of the several parts or", my new lockmay be and substituted for those4 herein shownY and described without departingi'from the nature and principle of my invention.

Havingfthus described my invention, what I claim vand desire to' secure by Letters Patent lis:

A lock for a tire and rim assembly comprising, in combination, a threaded post adapted for mounting on a support; an arm having a chambered portion lfitting for movement about the post,V a ratchet-nut disposed in said arm-portion and threaded forvmovement on the post, the arm and nutbeing secured together` for movement as a unit lengthwise of the post for impinging engagement of the arm with the wheel-assembly,

means forreleasablylocking the nut and armY against wheel-freeing movement on the post, said means including a spring-pressed key-retractable bolt carried by the arm and adapted for engagement with the nut, and a projection on the arm WALTER L. HAwKiNs. Y I 

